It's never going to be the same Sonkgran Festival for Thais ever again. The Thai New Year today was marked by clashes between police and soldiers with red-shirted protestors after a state of emergency has been declared by Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The wounds will be deep and far-reaching. Thai society will have to find answers to a host of tough questions: Why can't we,despite six decades of "democratic rule," find a peaceful way to resolve our conflicts? Why do we allow politicians to plunge the country into an unfathomable abyss? Why hasn't the premier acted more decisively? Why does Thai society tolerate such anarchy?
Unless we find some concrete answers to some of these questions, Thai society will be one step closer to being labelled a "failed state.
4 comments:
in many countries, a peaceful resolution of social and political differences is mediated through the process of organized elections and voting, the results of which are then accepted by all parties rather than negated by the side with fewer votes.
it would seem a good starting point for reconciliation in the Thailand situation might be for all parties to agree to accept and abide by the results of the next elections which will probably be called very soon.
ie., no more coups or judicial interventions, etc.
I thouhgt always Thai people are kind, open-minded and peaceful. What happened in Pataya is a blame for Thailand, Thai people and those who really love Thailand. I feel sad. Since two years Thailand, which was once a peaceful countrie, is in the worldnews only with unwholesome things.
The problem caused by the yellow shirt people at the end of 2008 harmed the people in Thailand. The image of Thailand was poluted and a lot of tourists didn't come to Thailand but go instead to Malaysia. I work for KLM Airlines and I see it too. Before the flights to Bangkok were always full booked and the flight to Malaysia and Singapore never. Since the beginning of 2009 the flights to Bangkok are sometimes half full and the flights to Malaysia and Singapore are full booked.
I know there was an elected governement and it was set off by the court. In the past I already wrote about the fact that an elected governement has to stand till new elections and than the voters can decide if the governement can go on or not. But regarding the decision of the highest Thai court there came a new governement.
This new governement and also the previous governements have been taken a lot of good decisions. Certainly in the current economic situation a governement that is not too bad has to been given the opportunity to rule the country. I had also respect for the Taksin governement, they realised good things for Thailand. But there was also corruption and fraud.
The current governement tries to do something to prevent further corruption and took already measures to stop the economic crisis. Give this governement a change to bring Thailand out of the economic crisis.
Like HRM The King said we have to build up a country free from corruption and a governement based on integrity.
What happened yesterday in Pattaya is bad for Thailand and it hurts me very much. The leaders of the other countries had to "escape" from Thailand. The ASEAN-summit which had a big agenda on measures to counter the economic crisis has been posphoned.
The image of Thailand is blamed ... and all SE Asian people who are the first targed group as tourist see these pictures on TV. They will never come back to Thailand.
But also the measures which the leaders of these countries would negociate to find a way out of to economic crisis, will not take effect. Could it be worser for Thailand? I really cannot understand the Thai people. Why are these people not listening to HRM The King. He has the best project for Thailand: the suficiency economy. Instead of realizing this project for the welbeing of all, people are struggling for power and private gain. HRM The King is a man of peace and tries to bring harmony in Thailand. Why are some Thai people blaming HRM The King by what they are doing now?
What is happening now has nothhing to do with the wellfare of Thai people. It is all about power and personal gain. The Buddha told us that we never have to look for power or personal profit if we harm other people with our acts. The power and money we have we only have to use to serve the well being of all human beings. Why are all these demonstrators do not listen to and follow the advices of The Lord Buddha?
We all can do something to stop this childish behaviour. Look at what Thailand really need. Find leaders who are not looking for their own wealth but whose only purpose is to serve Thailand and who are only concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of all Thai inhabitants. Create harmony not demonstrations. Let us start today to built up the most beautiful country of the world to the most peaceful country in which everybody get the opportunity to live in welfare. Please I ask you to do this in name of myself who have so much respect for Thailand, Thai people and HRM The King and I ask you this because The Lord Buddha teached us how to live in peace and wellbeing, in harmony and welfare. I feel sad today, I can almost cry. Please do something.
Vital E.H. MOORS
email: sahmkan@hotmail.com
http://vitalnetherlands.spaces.live.com/
I don't judge anyone. I only suggest that we all can better find peaceful ways to build up the futur and not with fighting and demonstrating. Do something positive and do not harm others.
I also suggest that politician better concentrate and put all effort in realizing the project of HRM The King : the sufficiency economy.
The Lord Buddha told us that we have to gard our acting and do only wholesome things. He told us not to conquer violence with violence but with loving kindness. A country built on loving kindness and taking cere of those who have it difficult.
I think, it i salso the dream of HRM The King to realise a society based on integrity and harmony. We all can do something to act and speak more with loving kindness and not harming other people.
Vital E.H. MOORS
email: sahmkan@hotmail.com
http://vitalnetherlands.spaces.live.com/
I am so happy that it is quiet again in Thailand and that we can really celebrate Songkran now.
Of course not everything is solved, but now it is quiet... Thai people can look for real solution of this matter
Thank you all so much
Let's be proud of Thailand, the most beautiful country in the world!
Let's build up wellbeing and wellfeare for all Thai
Let's celabrate in peace now Songkran 2552....
HAPPY SONGKRAN 2555 !!!
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